80th birthday cake for man.....sheet cake

I have to do a full sheet cake for an 80th celebration for my neighbor man.His family has requested something very simple....as he nor they are very froo-froo at all. ( he puts you to mind of somebody who would be considered a grumpy old man. lol!I am stumped. Any ideas would be very appreciated.

I often get "stage fright" when it comes to sheet cakes and men's cakes...so the two together could be paralyzing!!! I always try to make it so much harder than it has to be.

However, if they are expecting simple, what about doing an oval in the middle of the cake for the greeting with a simple little border. Then in the left over open space make some polka dots (greens & blues) and some spirals. Add a nice clean border around the top and bottom and Voila....cake for a grumpy old man.

Here are a few idea for you.The one though not a sheet cake would be just as good as a sheet- you could make colorflow #s or cut them from fondant - I've done it both ways.The 'bugs' cake could be a fun one w/any kind of bugs you can make or think of